Chris Robinson: Morality police need to work harder to shut down Modesto’s sex trade

Re “Downtown cabaret plan sure to rile morality police” (Page 3A, Aug. 2): If the new cabaret wants to operate with impunity, they need only call it a “massage parlor.”

I won’t make an argument for or against another sex-based business in Modesto, but why should I? There are already dozens of illicit massage parlors offering dirty deeds done dirt cheap. Yes, yes we know how hard it is to build a solid case against a massage parlor and shut it down, only to have another pop up in its place. But if Modesto’s “morality police” want to claim the high ground, going after businesses that profit from human trafficking should be on top of their hit list.

Don’t kid yourselves folks. There are actual sex slaves working the backrooms of most cities in America. Don’t forget the hotels just outside the downtown area where a room can be rented by the quarter-hour, complete with a female companion. Is a cabaret downtown serving up sultry, scantily sequined single moms going to stain this city’s saintly image? Maybe, but only the image. Pull back the curtain and you’ll see the sex industry is in full swing.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 1:34 PM with the headline "Chris Robinson: Morality police need to work harder to shut down Modesto’s sex trade."